LONDON:
Manchester United signed Slovenian worldwide Benjamin Sesko on Saturday, making him the third ahead the 20-time English champions have acquired within the shut season.
The 22-year-old’s arrival from RB Leipzig, in a deal reported to be price as much as £74 million (85 million euros, $99 million), completes an overhaul of the Crimson Devils’ assault that failed to fireplace final season.
Solely 4 different groups scored fewer than United’s 44 targets in 38 Premier League video games final season because the English giants endured their worst marketing campaign for 51 years, ending fifteenth within the desk.
Sesko, who has scored 16 targets in 41 worldwide appearances, is United’s third main attacking signing following the recruitment of Matheus Cunha for £62.5m from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo, who joined from Brentford for £65m with £6m in add-ons.
“Manchester United is happy to substantiate that Benjamin Sesko has joined the membership, topic to registration,” learn a membership assertion.
The five-year contract features a assured cost of £66.3million, with the rest in add-ons, in keeping with reviews.
“The historical past of Manchester United is clearly very particular however what actually excites me is the longer term,” stated Sesko.
“After we mentioned the mission, it was clear that every little thing is in place for this staff to proceed to develop and compete for the largest trophies once more quickly.”
Sesko had additionally been linked with Newcastle, however as soon as once more Eddie Howe’s League Cup winners didn’t land their goal regardless of having the ability to supply European soccer this season, in contrast to Manchester United.
Howe had seen Sesko as a ready-made alternative for sad Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who has been a goal for champions Liverpool.
Sesko, although, stated he felt a vibrancy at United as they search to rebound from a desperately disappointing 2024-2025 marketing campaign underneath 40-year-old Portuguese supervisor Ruben Amorim.
“From the second that I arrived, I may really feel the optimistic power and household surroundings that the membership has created,” he stated.
“It’s clearly the right place to achieve my most stage and fulfil all of my ambitions.
“I can’t wait to begin studying from Ruben and connecting with my team-mates to realize the success that everyone knows we’re able to collectively.”
Sesko had additionally beforehand been linked with Arsenal after impressing throughout his two-year spell in Germany, the place he scored 39 occasions in 87 appearances for Leipzig, together with 21 targets final season.
Standing 1.95 metres (6ft 4ins) tall, Sesko’s towering physique, electrical tempo and eye for aim have earned comparisons with Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland.
Like Haaland, he additionally made his identify at RB Salzburg earlier than shifting to Germany in 2023.
United are banking on Sesko realising his ample potential to fireplace them again into rivalry on the high of the Premier League desk.
Between them, Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo mixed for 58 targets final season.
The large outlay on their arrivals must bear fruit shortly with United underneath stress to fulfill monetary sustainability guidelines, particularly with out the income of European soccer this season.
Sesko’s arrival is prone to presage the departure of Rasmus Hojlund, whose plight may present a salutary story for the Slovenian.
The 23-year-old Danish ahead arrived with equally excessive hopes however has didn’t ship and is reportedly topic to curiosity from Serie A aspect AC Milan.
Sesko although has satisfied United’s director of soccer Jason Wilcox that he has the attributes to assist propel United again into title rivalry.
“Benjamin possesses a uncommon mixture of electrifying tempo and the power to bodily dominate defenders, making him one of the distinctive younger abilities in world soccer,” stated Wilcox.
“We’ve adopted Benjamin’s profession carefully; all of our knowledge evaluation and analysis concluded that he has theárequired qualities and character to thrive at Manchester United.”
